Terms
Over 50 million people believe themselves influencers or digital creators
It could be that everywhere you look around, there's a plethora of digital creators professional in social media, as well as influencers. It's not true! Nowadays more than 50 million people globally think of themselves as influencers or digital creators according to Influencer Marketing Hub which also estimates that the influencer marketing industry is set to grow to around $21 billion by 2023.
While the terms 'digital creators or influencers' might seem interchangeable, they're different. In this post we'll look at what it means to be a digital creator, how it is different when compared to being an influencer, and how to become one.
The definition of an online creator?
A digital creator is someone who creates online content on multiple platforms. This could include blogs, social media and podcasts as well as videos. The creators and users create material that is true for them and their branding, and usually have a specific market or segment they are targeting.
A digital creator is one who is focused on building a community of fans, communicating with their fans, and sharing their often individual perspective on the topic.
How is a digital creator different in comparison to an influencer?
Although there's a certain amount of overlap between an influencer and a creator however, there are some important differences. An influencer is someone who enjoys a huge number of followers on social media- often with a number of hundreds or thousands or millions - and regularly uses that following to promote items or services.
These companies typically collaborate in partnership with companies to develop promotional content. The earnings are often dependent on the number of followers they have.
Creators, in contrast will be focused on creating specific content for them and their personal branding. Although they can also collaborate with companies, their main priority is creating content that resonates with their target audience. A creator's income can come from a variety of sources, such as the sponsorship of a brand, membership fees, sales, or ad revenues.
How to become a creator of digital content?
Becoming a digital creator is not something that happens in a flash. It takes time, effort and dedication to develop a brand that is successful. Here are some steps you can follow to begin:
Find your niche
The initial step towards becoming a creator on the internet is to find your niche. What do you love to do? What unique perspective can you bring to the conversation? What are the topics you can add real value to?
As a digital creator you should have a niche that is something you're knowledgeable about like food, for instance.
You'll want to choose an area that you are interested in and knowledgeable about and has a large audience. Don't be afraid to be hyper-specific: in different manners, the more precise your area of expertise, the more likely you are to stand out within a crowd.
Build your name
After you've identified your area of expertise It's now time to begin building your personal branding. This includes creating a brand name along with a logo and one that is compatible to your specific niche and appeals to your audience.
It's true that this name could be your name, or even a nickname, however it's best to have a name that is memorable or unusual. You'll also want to create your own social media profiles and a site to display your work and engage with your followers.
Engage and be engaged
The core of being an online creator is making! Most of the time this content is digital and could include videos, blog posts, social media posts or podcasts. Your content should be true to your company as well as your company and be valuable to your audience.
Engaging with your followers or your members is crucial for building a brand that is successful. This means responding to comments, DMs, and emails and instilling a sense of community around your brand. Also, you might want to think about hosting meetings or live Q&A sessions to engage with your customers in the real world.
You need the skills to become a digital creator
Being a creator on the internet requires a variety of skills; you don't just need to be arty and creative and possess a keen understanding into your field The most effective creators are focused entrepreneurs as well as business professionals with well-defined content and communications strategies.
It takes a variety of abilities to become a digital designer like a memorable appearance in front of the camera
Here are some of the most essential skills you need to be a digital creator:
Creativity
Being a digital artist is a must to be innovative in all you do - the clue is in the title! Creativity includes coming up with innovative ideas for content, speaking well on camera if you're creating video making eye-catching images including thumbnails for videos, as well as appealing photos on Instagram.
You'll also need to be constantly finding new ways to engage with your audiences like Ask Me Anythings (AMAs) or sharing behind the scenes footage.
Communication
Communication is essential for building a brand and thus when progressing in your professional career as a digital creator. You'll have to be able to clearly communicate your ideas and your brand's message to your audience so you'll require strong interpersonal skills and a sharpness of thought and speaking.
Communication that is more business-oriented is important for professionals who are digital creators as you'll likely be attending talks with reps from brand brands as well as businesses looking to collaborate with you or sponsor your content as well as working with other creators that you would like to collaborate with. Getting your point across concisely and fairly is essential.
Business sense
Similar to the previous point, having meetings with brands and fellow creators requires you to know how collaborative projects will work to help you as well as everyone else involved.
Do you want to connect with an entirely new market? Bring back the excitement with less engaged members? Spark a debate? Perhaps encourage the sale of something? Each of these requires clever brand positioning, knowing your USP inside-out, and an ability to promote concepts and goods.
Examples of successful digital creators
Rhett as well as Link: Rhett McLaughlin and Charles Lincoln 'Link' Neal III (also named Rhett and Link are friends since the year 2006. They co-founded 'Good Mythical morning', a comedy YouTube channel which discusses pop culture and food, as well as posting frequently on social networks, and hosting their own podcast, the Ear Biscuits podcast.
Kevin Smith: Actor, filmmaker, comedian and author Kevin Smith got his big break in the film industry when he directed and appeared in "Clerks". Kevin Smith went on to develop the famous character Jay and Silent Bob with Jason Mewes. Nowadays he is a famous Youtuber, author, and host of a variety of shows on his SModcast Podcast Network. Some of them include Fatman Beyond and Hollywood Babble-On.
Molly Baz: Author, recipe creator, and food stylist, Molly Baz launched her online creator career at Bon Appetit magazine, where she tested and developed recipes, wrote articles, and starred in videos on the company's YouTube channel. Molly Baz has launched her own food brand mollybaz.com with social media as well as a YouTube channel.
Scott Aukerman: The actor, comedian and author is most well-known for the founder and host on Comedy Bang! Bang! Comedy Bang! Bang! podcast. He co-created and appeared in the show 'Between Two Fingers with Zach Galifianakis' and has been featured in TV shows like Parks and Recreation. He cofounded the Earwolf podcast platform and has been awarded the award twice. Primetime Emmy Awards.
Jacques Pepin It's not necessary to be young to become an artist in the digital realm! Jacques Pepin has been cooking professionally for many decades. His latest venture, the Jacques Pepin Foundation video recipe book, is a combination of cookbook and the video-based membership program, which allows you to watch celebrity chefs make meals in their homes, and take a copy of the recipes in case you want to follow along.
Conclusion
Being a digital creator is not all about creating content. It's also about creating an identity and connecting with the people in your network or. It takes the time and energy to create an effective business, it's also a satisfying career that allows you to share your unique perspective with the world.
Finding your passion by identifying your niche, creating your own brand, creating engaging content, as well as engaging with your followers to become an effective digital creator!